My doctor told me normal walking range was 10-16 months. Katelyn will be 17 months on Friday. I wasn't worried. It's really her personality, she's pretty laid back. She was in no rush to come to earth, no rush to crawl, and no rush to walk. Yes it has had its perks, but I have felt the need for it sometimes. She's getting heavy and hard to carry around when we're out and about. I also feel like her and Tommy will play more now that she's walking around. It's nice that she could stay my baby for this long. She sure is cute!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Finally
Our first snowstorm of the winter!! (Besides the one before Halloween) It came so timely on Saturday morning and it's since melted and we're back to 50 weather. I like the mild weather but if it's going to be freezing there might as well be snow so that the kids have something to do outside.
Anyway, the kids have been so anxious to try out their new sleds. Tommy didn't take to it like he did in Utah, but Rachel was out there for hours. When she finished, all the other neighborhood kids started coming out. If you calculate that right, they were outside playing in the snow at 7am. No surprise to us.
Good boy Tommy, digging out my tires
The snow made us realize how unprepared we are for it. Jake needs a hat and Katelyn needs some snow pants and boots :)
Such a good helper
Anyway, the kids have been so anxious to try out their new sleds. Tommy didn't take to it like he did in Utah, but Rachel was out there for hours. When she finished, all the other neighborhood kids started coming out. If you calculate that right, they were outside playing in the snow at 7am. No surprise to us.
Good boy Tommy, digging out my tires
The snow made us realize how unprepared we are for it. Jake needs a hat and Katelyn needs some snow pants and boots :)
Such a good helper
Monday, January 16, 2012
Best Christmas Ever
(Sorry for the long post. I had 200+ pictures, I have been procrastinating and I just needed to get this done)
These kids were thrilled to take part in the nativity at Great Grandma's house
It's a good thing Great Grandma made pajamas for the kids, our luggage ended up getting stuck in Memphis for a couple days...and good thing we packed all the presents in carry-ons too.
Tommy made sure Santa would get his "chocolate" milk
And Rachel took care of the letter
Oh anticipation! Isn't it fun!! I love their tired eyes. Surprisingly they adjusted super quick to Mountain Standard Time and didn't get up until 7am. Amazing right?!
Classic shot
Katelyn likes her new horse and bath toys
Tommy's present tower! I was really quite proud of myself for my orchestrating the presents we got them and the ones my mom sent to Princeton, it was definitely the trickiest part of the big surprise.
I loved hearing Rachel say, "just what I wanted!" with most of her gifts.
Isn't she cute with her matching American Girl doll. She named her Amy and she loves her!
Tommy loves his batcave! Jack and Tommy had a few rough moments but they started to click in the end and became real good buddies.
We enjoyed going to church on Christmas and listening to Sister and Elder Christofferson speak.
The week following we seemed to pack in a lot of fun but still managed to get in some down time just hanging out.
Visiting Grandma's work
Going to Zoo Lights! This was definitely a highlight. Lots of fun lights and we even got to see some animals, like the tiger, the leopard, and all the reptiles. 
It's not a true Christmas vacation without puzzles. I've been doing them since I was little. I think we completed 3 1000 piece puzzles. I'm glad Rachel is joining in!
An additional tipping point to booking this trip was the hope to ski (to take advantage of these years I'm not pregnant or nursing). It's been a mild winter across the board, with Utah as no exception. We did not have a white Christmas and the snow was meager in the mountains. Luckily there was enough to have Rachel really get the hang of it...and LOVE it! It was so fun to see her persevere and progress and be proud of herself, and I love that smile.
You know it's a good ski day when...
To include Tommy in on the snow fun we went sledding. No shame in wearing purple. I love it!
Pure joy!
We got sleds for them for Christmas and are still waiting to put them to use here in New Jersey
Just hanging out in pajamas. Guaranteed this was not taken in the morning. Katelyn likes to make this face when she sees the camera aimed at her.
Bubble bath
Cutsies!
Getting the hang of his new scooter
Aren't these two kiddos so cute?! My nephew Jack and niece Sophie
Just Dance on the XBox. Great times!!
We got to spend some time with Jake's brother's family and also had the treat of spending some time with "Grandma Grape" who was up visiting from New Mexico.
We took advantage of Provo, seeing my grandma one more time and seeing a BYU basketball game.
My kids loved it. The girls may have even enjoyed it more than Tommy. Rachel was really into the cheers and "who's winning"
One more ski day. Spring skiing in JANUARY! Gotta love it!
Scarlet and Rachel were great little ski buddies. They had such a blast and they were so cute cruising down the hill talking and laughing. It reminded me of my good ol' days skiing with my cousin.
And speaking of buddies, these kids hit it off from the second we walked in. They had a great time dressing up and fighting bad guys, doing their "boy" things.
It was a rough transition back to reality...fatigued, unpacking, putting Christmas away, missing family and friends, getting sick etc. but it was SO worth it!
These kids were thrilled to take part in the nativity at Great Grandma's house
It's a good thing Great Grandma made pajamas for the kids, our luggage ended up getting stuck in Memphis for a couple days...and good thing we packed all the presents in carry-ons too.
Tommy made sure Santa would get his "chocolate" milk
And Rachel took care of the letter
Oh anticipation! Isn't it fun!! I love their tired eyes. Surprisingly they adjusted super quick to Mountain Standard Time and didn't get up until 7am. Amazing right?!
Classic shot
Katelyn likes her new horse and bath toys
Tommy's present tower! I was really quite proud of myself for my orchestrating the presents we got them and the ones my mom sent to Princeton, it was definitely the trickiest part of the big surprise. 
I loved hearing Rachel say, "just what I wanted!" with most of her gifts.
Isn't she cute with her matching American Girl doll. She named her Amy and she loves her!
Tommy loves his batcave! Jack and Tommy had a few rough moments but they started to click in the end and became real good buddies.
We enjoyed going to church on Christmas and listening to Sister and Elder Christofferson speak. The week following we seemed to pack in a lot of fun but still managed to get in some down time just hanging out.
Visiting Grandma's work
Going to Zoo Lights! This was definitely a highlight. Lots of fun lights and we even got to see some animals, like the tiger, the leopard, and all the reptiles. 
It's not a true Christmas vacation without puzzles. I've been doing them since I was little. I think we completed 3 1000 piece puzzles. I'm glad Rachel is joining in!
An additional tipping point to booking this trip was the hope to ski (to take advantage of these years I'm not pregnant or nursing). It's been a mild winter across the board, with Utah as no exception. We did not have a white Christmas and the snow was meager in the mountains. Luckily there was enough to have Rachel really get the hang of it...and LOVE it! It was so fun to see her persevere and progress and be proud of herself, and I love that smile.
You know it's a good ski day when...
To include Tommy in on the snow fun we went sledding. No shame in wearing purple. I love it!
Pure joy!
We got sleds for them for Christmas and are still waiting to put them to use here in New Jersey
Just hanging out in pajamas. Guaranteed this was not taken in the morning. Katelyn likes to make this face when she sees the camera aimed at her.
Bubble bath
Cutsies!
Getting the hang of his new scooter
Aren't these two kiddos so cute?! My nephew Jack and niece Sophie
Just Dance on the XBox. Great times!!
We got to spend some time with Jake's brother's family and also had the treat of spending some time with "Grandma Grape" who was up visiting from New Mexico.
We took advantage of Provo, seeing my grandma one more time and seeing a BYU basketball game.
My kids loved it. The girls may have even enjoyed it more than Tommy. Rachel was really into the cheers and "who's winning"
One more ski day. Spring skiing in JANUARY! Gotta love it!
Scarlet and Rachel were great little ski buddies. They had such a blast and they were so cute cruising down the hill talking and laughing. It reminded me of my good ol' days skiing with my cousin.
And speaking of buddies, these kids hit it off from the second we walked in. They had a great time dressing up and fighting bad guys, doing their "boy" things.
It was a rough transition back to reality...fatigued, unpacking, putting Christmas away, missing family and friends, getting sick etc. but it was SO worth it!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Surprise!
It was a big debate this year whether or not to go to Utah for Christmas. Four airplane tickets, the stress of holiday travel, the unpredictability of the weather, transporting the presents, etc were all very good reasons to stay here and start our own traditions. So we decided and said we weren't coming. Then about a month before I decided to look at our sky miles. The possibility opened up and ideas started forming in my head to surprise my family. It was one of the funnest things I've ever done!! The planning, the deception, the anticipation, I was like a kid waiting for Santa Claus...I couldn't wait!
So here's the video of the kids finding out, as well as walking into my Grandma's house for the big Christmas Eve dinner. It's a little long, but it's sure fun.
So here's the video of the kids finding out, as well as walking into my Grandma's house for the big Christmas Eve dinner. It's a little long, but it's sure fun.
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